Wiekevorst,

today we had great weather again with clear skies. did not get any sleep that night and my head never seemed to get on tract. it is a great race, mostly through fields, we got their early and warmed up, but I did not seem to be able to get to the line on time and just about missed the start. so at the back row and little time to focus, I never notice the Belgium champ up front, and he was, in Belgium style. allowed to escape on the first lap, I started ok, but he was gone. after working through traffic to the front in the first 3/5rd a lap, I road a lone all race, try to bridge to him, the guys behind soon disappeared, but Sals, was crushing it off the front. with 3 to go, there was no way I could get him.
Congratulated him at the finish and dubbed him "crusher", he smiled and said " don't miss the start next race", we laughed.
Well, he looks like the man, but this kinda of course favors him, open power, he is big. I was happy to have faced him and am excited about the challenge at worlds.
Gannon had a great start, and moved into the front group of 5 on the start of the 2nd lap, he went down hard when he clipped a corner pole (steel rod) and had a yard sale. when he gathered 8 guys went by, we rode the last lap together
Cheers

Belgium opener

Shriek was a fast technical course under sunny skies, and despite the constant pushing, shoving, and yelling by the locals, I managed to cross the line in first with a very solid final lap.
More to follow.... our van.
Lots of familiar American over here this year and the crowds have grown, making everything more exciting.
Teammate Gannon had a tough day with no gears and a back row start in a very fast field. Todays course, in Wiekevorst should play out better, with a long road start and more open terrain to move around.

It ain't big, but it hurt

now that is a clean fissure, looks like super glue would do it.

Oh No Mr Fibula

When I landed on that railroad tie at the bottom of the stairs, past experience told me it wasn't just soft tissue. Something broke. 30 minutes from home and down a dirt trail. ... shook it off and saddled up for the slow pain peddle home. still had to pick up my daughter before driving myself to Kaiser. the walk to the emergency room wasn't pretty. suspicions confirmed, the fractured fibula didn't seem to need casting. all I wanted was a wrap and a cane and go. tried to escape twice, caught both times.
now are crutches better than a cane? they make you look more hurt than debilitated, but canes you can collect in a basket at the front with your umbrellas.
Well, there goes the season. If it matters, worlds are still a possibility.

Oh no

4 weeks to nationals and still haven't found the right set of race wheels and the ones I have are so full of mud even a power washer can't get them clean. well, keep showing up and maybe your luck will change is the cowboy lore.

Wow

All that rain drained and dried quickly for the Prunedale race. It made a bit it tacky, though sand drains fast and the warmer than home temps(shortsleeves) loosened it up again. One can never really trust those seed grain rounders on the ball field.
So, it was a Strawberry-fest, and a great race at that with the Madman Myall digging deep and blasting by in the final few meters. He can really gather it when he needs. Some how he gets speed out of those legs... figure some guys get that twist. The field was a good size and it seemed everyone had lots of stories on the big Monterey opener.

Great race to all the fellows who showed, cool new course Keith, and Rod thanks for the finish!

See ya at the Wednesday Vegas-baby after bedtime race.

Rain, Rain, here to stay!

What a storming start to the new cross season. Caly got rain, and it's dry and warm in motherland of cross, Belgium. There season is kicking in full steam. What I would pay to spend a month there. Well, you can bet it is going to be hot in Vegas, even at 9 at night. Now that will be an elite race, and will be happy just to get a chance to race, thanks Anthony.
But tomorrow is a day with my master and berry brethren in Prunedale.
Wonder how the snow was for those who went to Northstar today. Here we just had fun getting an early season soaking on the roads of Woodside. See ya tomorrow.